The N Sets School-Shooting Special

The N is teaming up with anti-gun organization PAX on a special two-part episode of drama Degrassi: The Next Generation about a school shooting.

The special will air over two consecutive Fridays, Dec. 3 and 10, at 8 p.m. (EST).

PAX will consult on The N's parent-discussion guide for the episode, which will be available online (discussions.the-n.com) Thursday, Dec. 2. The guide offers tips and discussion questions about the issues raised in Degrassi to use as conversation-starters with adolescents, The N said.

Also, the network will create and air a new public-service announcement in support of PAX's “SPEAK UP” campaign starring Degrassi's Aubrey Graham (Jimmy), and it will air two of PAX's SPEAK UP PSAs about gun violence.

"As always, Degrassi deals honestly with topics that are important to teens but often uncomfortable for adults to address," The N executive vice president and general manager Tom Ascheim said in a prepared statement.

"This episode, along with our partnership with PAX, allows us to offer teens the resources they need to deal with this sensitive issue that, unfortunately, is too often in the news,” he added.